Why do police officers (beat cops in movies anyway) wear the funny shaped hats. Do they serve a pupose?

Question

Real question. I was just watching a TV show and was wondering why the beat cops had the flat hats.

Answer 1

Yes, there really is a reason for it, htough hats in general have gone out of style for some cops.

Way back in the middle of the last century, many departments started hiring psychologists to help desing the uniforms. The object of this was to have the uniform start bringing about respect and a sense of authority in people the officers were dealing with. The hats were studied and checked for how well they fit this purpose.

Based on tradition and something in our culture, Campaign hats (Smokey the Bear style) impart the most authority. The flat service covers (bus driver hats), with the octagon shape, were second and round were third. Stetsons and baseball caps were actually found to detract in many cases from authority.

Incidentally, this is also the reason that cops were either navy or dark blue (the ones that look black are actually a very dark blue) uniforms. Dark colors bring about authority too.

Answer 2

i don't know, they suck though...i was a cop in the 80's just east of st. louis, and our lieutenant would have a fit if we got out of the car without it...we used to call them "bus driver" hats. they have been starting to phase them out...i used to store my spare pack of smokes in it.